The Common Cold

The Common Cold

By Rhiannon Wasley

What is a common cold? A cold is a highly contagious virus that is spread super easily. Usually, it is mainly caused by germs spread around from telephones, pens/pencils, and physical contact with someone who has already been infected by the virus (Common Cold). Colds are prominent in areas such as school, the workplace, downtown cities, or any other place where many people inhabit (Doerr). Therefore, catching a cold can be easier than the sneeze that transmits it.  Although a simple cold is among the least serious sicknesses there are it is a worldwide illness that cannot be escaped.

Though a cold may not be a serious illness, it is very contagious. On average, the American kindergartener gets an ordinary cold up to 12 times a year, while the average adult gets a cold 2-4 times a year. Assumingly, this could be because kids are crammed into dirty schools with other sick children, and adults need to endure a hard day at work with other dirty slobs working to get their paychecks. Colds can be caused by a virus called “Rhinovirus” (Common Cold Cause).

            Because every single person gets a cold sooner or later, it’s not necessarily a big deal if you catch a cold, unless your condition worsens. For example, if you get a cold, that is no reason to miss school or work, unless if your symptoms have evolved to the point where you cannot function in your daily routine. There is technically no cure for a cold, but you can treat it just by home remedies. A great way to feel better, and try to get over a cold is drink lots of fluid, lay in bed, or take a Tylenol if you have a head ache to make it feel better, and that’s one less symptom out of the way.

Symptoms of a cold include coughing, sneezing, slight fever, sore throat, fatigue, and more (Common Cold Symptoms). The cold season is normally during the fall/winter seasons, but that doesn’t mean you can’t catch a cold year around. Most people think that you get a cold from the weather, but that is semi true. During the fall and winter months, the air is usually quite dry which can cause a cold. Also, that season is when children return to school, allowing exposure to a wide variety of germs and viruses. The weather plus exposure makes the fall and winter seasons the perfect time for catching colds, along with many other illnesses that may not be as minor.

With all the ways to receive an illness, it’s no surprise how easily colds are caught. There will always be those minor setbacks in every society, and ours is the common cold. But, if left untreated, colds can lead to more serious illnesses like Influenza. So to stay safe, one must know the various places colds could be lurking. One must also be aware of the various methods to treat a cold, to prevent further contamination or growth of the illness.